Texas Man Charged After Allegedly Shooting At Secret Service Near Mall
On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, federal prosecutors charged Michael Marx after he allegedly fired at a U.S. Secret Service agent near the Washington Monument while Vice President JD Vance's motorcade passed.
Federal prosecutors charged Marx with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful firearm possession by a felon, according to CBS News. A bystander behind the targeted agent was shot in the leg, and the officer returned fire, wounding Marx in the hand, arm and abdomen.
The episode traces back to Monday, May 4, when the shooting unfolded near the Washington Monument at 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW as Vance's motorcade passed. It is the second shooting involving the U.S. Secret Service near the White House in less than two weeks, following an exchange of gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. Social posts reported Marx allegedly yelled "F--- the White House" and "Kill me" while in an ambulance, offering a window into his behavior after the shooting.
Prosecutors say Marx is a convicted felon from a 2011 Florida drug trafficking case and did not have a D.C. license to carry a firearm; he now faces federal charges and the case is pending.
The incident marks a troubling trend, as it is the second shooting involving the U.S. Secret Service near the White House in just ten days, following a gunfire exchange at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026, as reported by Forbes. This spike in violence coincides with a 25% increase in charges for assault against federal officers from January to mid-September 2025 compared to the previous year, according to NPR, highlighting a growing concern about the safety of federal personnel in the current political climate.
Social media reactions reflect a mix of outrage and calls for change, with users like @TonySeruga criticizing D.C.'s gun control laws and praising the Secret Service's response as a validation of Second Amendment rights. Meanwhile, @ByteX08 emphasizes that this shooting is part of a broader pattern of security incidents, urging for a full security emergency declaration. These perspectives underscore a deepening anxiety about political violence and public safety in the nation's capital, suggesting that the discourse surrounding these events is as volatile as the incidents themselves.
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📊 Relevant Data
This incident is the second shooting involving the U.S. Secret Service near the White House in less than two weeks, following an exchange of gunfire with a gunman at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on April 25, 2026. ([Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/05/04/secret-service-involved-in-another-shooting-near-white-house-just-10-days-after-correspondents-dinner)) ([Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/05/04/secret-service-involved-in-another-shooting-near-white-house-just-10-days-after-correspondents-dinner))
In 2025, Ward 2, which includes the National Mall, recorded the second fewest gun-related violent crimes among Washington, D.C.'s wards. ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/shootings-on-the-national-mall-are-rare.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/us/politics/shootings-on-the-national-mall-are-rare.html))
Shootings On the National Mall Are Rare — The New York Times
Charges for assault against federal officers increased by 25% from January to mid-September 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. ([NPR](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5565146/white-house-claims-more-than-1-000-rise-in-assaults-on-ice-agents-data-says-otherwise)) ([NPR](https://www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5565146/white-house-claims-more-than-1-000-rise-in-assaults-on-ice-agents-data-says-otherwise))
White House claims “more than 1000%” rise in assaults on ICE agents. Data says otherwise — NPR
📌 Key Facts
- On Monday, May 4, 2026, the incident occurred near the Washington Monument at 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW as Vice President JD Vance's motorcade passed.
- On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, DOJ charged Michael Marx with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful firearm possession by a felon.
- A bystander behind the targeted Secret Service officer was shot in the leg, and the officer returned fire, wounding Marx in the hand, arm and abdomen.
- Marx is alleged to be a convicted felon from a 2011 Florida drug trafficking case and lacked a D.C. license to carry a firearm.
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